HB4139

THE CONTEXT: The Arizona Legislature adopts a budget for each fiscal year (FY) that contains general appropriations. Article IV, Section 20, Part 2 of the Constitution of Arizona requires the General Appropriations Act (feed bill) to contain only appropriations for the different state departments, state institutions, public schools and interest on public debt.

WHAT THE BILL DID: The final vetoed version would continues for FY 2027, as session law, to set the Arizona Department of Gaming's (ADG) regulatory assessment to 0.5% of the amounts wagered on live and simulcast races from in-state and out-of-state wagering handled by a commercial racing permittee, continues to authorize, as session law, ADG, for race meetings in 2026 and 2027, to allow a first-time starter horse to race as long as the horse has gate approval and at least two timed workouts, and require one of the timed workouts to be an out-of-the-gate workout that is conducted within 60 days of the race in which the horse is entered.

WHY IT MATTERED: The practical reason for this bill was to make the stated financial responsibility enforceable and keep public reporting on time. It would continues for FY 2027, as session law, to set the Arizona Department of Gaming's (ADG) regulatory assessment to 0.5% of the amounts wagered on live and simulcast races from in-state and out-of-state wagering handled by a commercial racing permittee, and would also continues to authorize, as session law, ADG, for race meetings in 2026 and 2027, to allow a first-time starter horse to race as long as the horse has gate approval and at least two timed workouts, rather than leave the current rule unchanged.